Search - LDS Living

Russell Osguthorpe: Attachment, Relationships, and God's Plan

Latter-day Saints may best recognize Russell Osguthorpe's name from his time as Sunday School general president. But they may not know he has a background in psychology and was serving as a stake president when he noticed that healthy attachment could be developed in relationships as long as a desire for improvement existed. Since then, he has been devoted to better understanding attachment theory from an academic, clinical, and spiritual perspective. In this week's episode, in honor of Valentine's Day, we'll discuss the importance of developing healthy attachments with God and with those around us.

9: The Covenant Is Renewed (Genesis 24–27)

When we read about Rebekah generously offering to get water for not only Abraham's servant but also for all of his camels, her task seems simple enough. But have you ever stopped to consider just how much water those camels would need? And how this wasn't a matter of turning on a faucet? It might give us a little insight into what a hard worker Rebekah was. This week as we study Genesis 24–27, we'll dive into Rebekah and Isaac’s story to learn from their faithful examples. We'll also discuss their commitment to preserving the Abrahamic covenant amidst all the ups and downs of parenting two very different sons.

12: “God Meant It unto Good” (Genesis 42–50)

Have you ever had a dream in the middle of the night that actually came true later? Or have you had dreams you're grateful never materialized because they were so strange or embarrassing? Well, whether they were his own or came to others, dreams played an important role in the life of Joseph of Egypt. In this week's lesson, we'll study Genesis 42–50 and read about how some of this prophet's dreams actually came true and discover how they changed the house of Israel forever.

Bonus: Stories We Love from the 'Latter-day Saint Women' Podcast

In honor of Women’s History month, we wanted to do something new and share one of our favorite podcasts with you. It's called Latter-day Saint Women, and in this episode, the Relief Society General Presidency has an important conversation with a few of their friends: a foster mom who's worried about a little boy she's come to love; a 22-year-old who's angry and confused when she can't serve a mission; and a recent convert whose parents are Mexican immigrants, so she wonders whether she will fit in. Through their discussion we come to see one of the most beautiful parts of Relief Society—we all belong.

Taylor Ricks: Noticing the People Hidden in the Pages

Taylor Ricks has often taken comfort in not just the stars of scripture stories, but also those characters who are so quietly present that we may not even notice them. Perhaps it’s because she has never felt like the star of the show herself. Or because there have been moments where she has wished no one would notice her at all. Unnamed scripture heroes have become trusted friends to Taylor—friends who have gotten her through incredibly difficult times. On this week’s episode, Taylor introduces us to a few of these friends and shares why they matter so much to her.

14: “Remember This Day, in Which Ye Came Out from Egypt” (Exodus 7–13)

What is it about the heart? Phrases like, “bless your heart,” “cross my heart,” “young at heart,” and more pepper our everyday speech. But other than the obvious fact that a beating heart is essential for life, what compels us to so often speak figuratively about it? In this week’s lesson, we’ll dive into that question as we study Pharaoh’s response to the ten plagues of Egypt in Exodus 7–13. And we’ll learn what actually softened his heart enough to let the Israelites go.

15: “Stand Still, and See the Salvation of the Lord” (Exodus 14–17)

When you were younger, what made you feel afraid? Was it the dark? Monsters under the bed? Spiders? Maybe some of your little kid worries remain (is anyone really not scared of spiders?), but likely you’ve matured out of most of them. There is one fear, however, that seems to stick with most of us—the fear of the unknown. The children of Israel in Moses’ day knew this unsettling feeling all too well, especially after they left Egypt. As we study Exodus 14–17, we’ll learn what the children of Israel found to be the antidote for fear, even in the face of uncertainty.

Your Story Has Power

In this final episode of This Is the Gospel, KaRyn, Katie, and Erika sit down and listen to their favorite untold stories from the pitch line—submissions from you that didn't make it into an episode for one reason or another, but that we love all the same. These three-minute stories range from wild, epic bear chases to small, quiet moments of revelation. While the voices and narratives may vary, each illustrates how even in a matter of minutes, individual’s stories have the power to bind us all together.

16: “He Will Swallow Up Death in Victory” (Easter)

What do you know about the Jewish week-long celebration of Passover? If your answer is little to nothing, you are going to love this special episode of Sunday on Monday. We are going to discuss the rich symbolism of this Jewish holiday and how it’s linked to the Christian observance of Easter. We’ll also explore what the celebration of Passover has to do with the ordinance we participate in every week—the sacrament. So grab your scriptures, and let’s dig into this special episode of Sunday on Monday.

17: “All That the Lord Hath Spoken We Will Do” (Exodus 18–20)

One son; two shoe; three tree; four door—these all sound like completely unrelated items, right? Well, you might be surprised to learn that they're actually a good way to remember the Ten Commandments in order. As we study this week’s lesson in Exodus 18–20, we’ll discuss why remembering the order of the commandments matter and how their meanings and applications reach deeper into our lives than we might have thought.